25 years ago this day Azharuddin crossed the landmark of 6000 runs in ODI cricket

Abhijit Sen Gupta Hyderabad:  Today marks an important day in the cricket career of Hyderabad’s batting maestro Mohammed Azharuddin. It was on this day in 1996, that he became the first Indian batsman to reach 6000 runs in ODI cricket. In 99 Test matches and 334 ODI matches, Azhar compiled more than 12,000 runs with a flair and aplomb that has been rarely seen. The superb start to his Test career when he breezed through three centuries in three matches, underlined his potential at the very beginning of his epochal journey in international cricket.
Nobody who saw him at his best can forget those wristy flicks that sent the ball flying through mid wicket off the world’s fastest bowlers. Also remarkable was his quicksilver reflexes in close catching positions. Even a mundane act of returning the ball to the wicket keeper, was done with a style which bore his personal stamp. He could just flick the ball back to the keeper underarm and top class batsmen were uneasy when Azhar was lurking close by.
He crossed 6000 runs in ODIs when he scored 88 runs for India against Pakistan in the Sahara Cup cricket tournament in Toronto. The match ended in a thrilling finish as Pakistan snatched a victory by 2 wickets with one ball remaining.
The tournament which was also known as the Sahara Friendship Cup, was an ODI series which took place between 14th to 23rd September, 1996. The tournament was held in Canada, which was seen as neutral territory for India and Pakistan to play against each other. The tournament was won by Pakistan by three matches to two. Pakistan was led by Wasim Akram, one of the legendary bowlers of the game, while India was led by an equally famous cricket legend namely Sachin Tendulkar.
Azharuddin reached this landmark in the second ODI of the series which took place on 17th September. India won the toss and skipper Sachin Tendulkar decided to bat first. Sachin and Nayan Mongia opened the innings but both were dismissed for modest scores (20 and 18 respectively). Thereafter came a fruitful stand between Azharuddin and Rahul Dravid which yielded 161 runs. It was during this stand that Azhar reached the landmark of 6000 runs.
Also Read High Court nullifies HCA Ombudsman’s disqualification orders of Apex council members The Indian ace scored 88 (99 balls, nine 4s) before he was caught by Azhar Mehmood off the bowling of Mushtaq Ahmed. India scored 264 for six in 50 overs and in reply Pakistan scored 266 for 8 in 49.5 overs to win a close contest.